Adjustable platform for tree-sawing devices.



N0.848,seo. PATENTED MAR.26,1907.

RFUNK.

ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM FOR TREE -SAWING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 190s.

1HE mmms PETERS ca, wasmmzfou, n. c.

HENRY FUNK, OF TAWAS CITY, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM FOR TREE-SAWING DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteoi `Maron 26, 1907.

Application iiled May 2l, 1906. Serial Nm 317,939.

To (all wwnt it 71u03/ concern:

Be it known 'that I, HENRY FUNK, who am a citizen of the United States, residing at Tawas City, county of Iosco, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Platforms for Tree-Sawing Devices and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an adjustable platform or table for supporting a machine for sawing down standing timber, and has for its object a frame or platform adapted to be supported on runners or wheels against the base of a tree-trunk and which contains a supplemental or movable platform upon which the engine rests, which may be moved about an arc of considerable size with the tree as a center without moving the supporting-sled.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the sled and platform in position against a tree. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the movable and adjustable parts of the platform, the floor proper being shown in dotted lines.

l represents the runners of the sled, upon which is mounted pivotally with respect to each runner a frame 2. This frame consists of a pair of side pieces 2a, connected by crossbraces 3 and an end brace 3a and which is further strengthened by curved braces 3b, which are fixed to the top of the side pieces, so that their upper surfaces may serve as a support to the end portions of the platform 4, which is directly supported only at its center, as hereinafter explained. At the forward end of the frame is located a trunk-engaging arc 5, which is struck from a sufliciently large radius so that trees of considerable variation in size may be accommodated within its curved portion without spacing its central portion from the part of the periphery of the tree directly adjacent thereto. This arc is in two parts, of which the part 5a is fixed to the frame and which engages within the troughed or hollowed-out portion of the part 5b, which is of the same curvature as the part 5b both internally and externally and whose outwardly-facing concurved surface is the one which really engages the trunk of a tree. This portion 5b is intended to be secured to the tree-trunk on the side previously selected and to be attached to the tree-trunk 7 by clamps 6, one at each end.

Extending lengthwise of the frame are two rotatable shafts 8 and 9, of which shaft 8 is adapted to be actuated by crank Sa and which is journaled upon each of the cross-braces 3 and 3a, over which it passes as a bearing, and with its forward end located on the part 5a, which is xed with respect to the frame 2. Iound upon said shaft S is the rope or chain of a bloc '-and-tackle device 10 for moving the entire frame 2 and all that it carries with respect to the trunk-engaging arc 5b, which is anchored to the tree-trunk. This block-andtackle device consists of one cord running from the shaft 8 to the pulley l()a and thence to a pin fixed in the rear side of the arc-piece 5b, and a similar cord 10C, running from the shaft 8 to the pulley l0d and thence to a second pin on the rear face of the part 5b. By the use of this the entire frame can be swung, as indicated by the dotted lines, forming a continuation of the arc portion 5, relatively to the anchored part 5b and the tree-trunk, thus giving considerable range of movement to the action of a drag-saw, which will be hereinafter referred to.

About midway between the ends of the frame is mounted a second curved trackway or arcpiece l2, composed of two sections and of a curvature parallel to that of the part 5, which is fixed to the frame. Its upper surface is hollowed out and cut away to form a track for a movable arc-piece 12a, which engages therein and whose movements are controlled by the rotation of the shaft 9 and the connecting-pulley mechanism 13, whose n ropes are connected to the movable piece 12EL similarly to that already described as to the parts 5b, and mounted on a pivot 12b in the center portion of this movable piece l2a is a platform 4, whose relative size with respect to the frame as a whole is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and upon which the motive power, as a small gasolene-engine or compressed-air device, is mounted, together with the mechanism for guiding the saw 14, which is of the ordinary drag type and which is actuated by a crank-rod extending from the crank-pin of the engine to a cross-head running in guides and which carries the saw.

It is evident that when first started and IOO with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 the path of the saw would be approximately parallel to that of the side pieces 2L of the frame. 7When, however, the saw has cut as far into the tree as is desirable or practicable in that direction, the rotation of the shaft 9 by means of the crank 9a swings the table to either one side or the other of the frame, guided, as it is, concentrically with the curve of the tree by the curved track 12, so that a considerable extent of the trunk exactly in line with the previous cut of the saw is placed within its reach without readjusting the device as a whole. When in turn the limit of its cut has been reached, the entire sled, both runners and frame, can be swung still farther by the rotation of the shaft 8, since the arc portion 5 has been securely attached to the tree-trunk by means of clamps 6, leaving only the part 5b thus clamped in its original relative position with respect to the tree, the new position of the frame and runners with respect to this arc portion and the tree-trunk in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 being beneath the position there shown and inclining to the right. In this new position the platform can at first be restored to its former position directly over the frame for the first part of the sawing in this new section, and as that is completed by again using the shaft 9 -it can be swung to its position at one side, as

before.

Vhile l am of the opinion that the ordinary drag-saw lends itself most readily to this work, l do not wish to be understood as confining myself to its use, as the platform is equally adjustable for use with other types of saw.

What I claim isl.` A movable platform for a timber-sawing device, having in combination with a part adapted to be anchored to the tree, a frame adapted to be swung thereon in a position of -substantial concentricity with respect thereto and to the tree, and a platform supported by said frame and similarly adjustable with respect to said 'frame and to the anchored piece, substantially as described.

2. A movable platform for a timber-sawing device, having in combination with a frame adapted to be supported by runners, a portion adapted to be anchored to the tree, means for actuating the frame about the tree and concentrically with respect thereto and to the anchored portion, and an enginesupporting platform adapted to be moved alone with respect to said frame and to be moved with it with respect to the anchored portion and about said tree-trunk.

3. An adjustable support for a timbersawing machine, having in combination with a platform adapted to support said machine, a main frame, a trunk-engaging piece with respect to which said' frame and. the platform carried by it are adapted to be moved with said tree-trunk as a center, means whereby this movement may be controlled, and means whereby the relative position of the platform and supporting-frame may be regulated, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l sign this specifica* tion in the presence of two witnesses.

. HENRY FUNK. Witnesses:

A. E. MOODY, W. V. COPELAND. 

